Our dentist and team want to make sure that you have the answers to all of your dental questions, so we have provided some basic information below. If you do not see your question here and would like to make a dental appointment in Chantilly, Virginia, call 703-222-0202 today. A member of our team will be happy to help you plan your visit to Nova Dental Care of Chantilly.

Alternative to Braces for Teens

Dental Anxiety

Do I have sleep apnea?

Do I need a root canal?

Gum Disease

I Think My Gums Are Receding

Improve Your Smile for Senior Pictures

Multiple Teeth Replacement Options

Options for Replacing Missing Teeth

Oral Cancer Screening

Oral Hygiene Basics

Post-Op Care for Dental Implants

Preventive Dental Care

What can I do to improve my smile?

What do I do if I damage my dentures?

What do I do if I chip my tooth?

When is a tooth extraction necessary?

Why are my gums bleeding?

Which is better–Invisalign® or braces?

Will I need a bone graft for dental implants?

Alternative to Braces for Teens

Dr. Neal Emad and our team understand that many young patients are less than enthusiastic about receiving metal braces, either because of their active lifestyles or their aesthetic concerns. We are pleased to offer Invisalign Teen® treatment, a series of clear, removable aligners, as an alternative to metal braces. Invisalign Teen treatment is easier, more convenient and more attractive, and it helps your teen improve their self-confidence. For more information, schedule a consultation for your teen and our dentist at Nova Dental Care of Chantilly.

Dental Anxiety

We understand that many patients suffer from dental anxiety, but there is no need to fear visiting our dentist at Nova Dental Care of Chantilly. We offer gentle care at your comfort level and will work with you to ease your fears. We also offer sedation dentistry, if needed, to help you feel calm and relaxed. If you prefer to relax without the use of medication, you can drink calming tea ahead of time or visit our office for a meet-and-greet with our friendly dentist and team — no dental work required.

Do I have sleep apnea?

Chronic exhaustion, lack of energy, a sore throat in the morning and frequent headaches are all signs of sleep apnea, a condition that causes obstructed breathing and snoring during sleep. When your body does not receive sufficient oxygen, it can feel drained and sluggish and can have adverse health effects such as stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, mood swings, depression and heart failure.

If you suspect you have sleep apnea, come see Dr. Neal Emad for a consultation. Based on your needs, our dentist may recommend an oral appliance, a CPAP, or oral surgery to remove obstructive fatty tissue.

Do I need a root canal?

A toothache can be caused by a number of factors, from food stuck between the teeth to infection of the inner tooth. If it is the latter, you may experience severe pain and swelling around the tooth. We encourage you to visit Nova Dental Care of Chantilly for all dental pain. You may need a root canal to preserve the tooth from being extracted, in which case our dentist will remove the infection, clean out the tooth, and provide a dental restoration to restore your smile.

Gum Disease

Our dentist and team at Nova Dental Care of Chantilly strive to prevent gum disease through routine preventive care and patient education. Gum disease is most often caused by plaque or tartar that has become trapped between the teeth and under the gumline. The gums can become irritated and swollen. Other signs include bleeding, gum recession and loose teeth.

Depending on the severity of the condition, our team may need to perform a deep cleaning procedure, gum grafting, antibiotic treatment or a bone graft. Please contact our office as soon as possible if you notice a change in your periodontal health.

I Think My Gums Are Receding

Gum recession can be caused by aggressive brushing or periodontal disease. When brushing your teeth, use a soft or electric toothbrush and brush gently around the gumline to avoid irritating your gums. When plaque becomes trapped beneath the gumline, it can irritate the gums and cause them to pull away from the teeth, resulting in looser, longer-looking teeth.

If you are concerned about receding gums, schedule an appointment for an oral exam. The sooner you visit our dentist, the better you and your smile will feel.

Improve Your Smile for Senior Pictures

By the time you are a junior in high school, you should be thinking about how you want your smile to appear in your senior pictures. Our dentist and team would be happy to offer a number of treatments to help your meet your smile goals, including Invisalign® aligners, dental veneers and dental bonding. We will help you select the right treatment to enhance your unique smile.

Multiple Teeth Replacement Options

Nova Dental Care of Chantilly can replace multiple missing teeth with custom-made dental restorations, such as dental implants, dentures, implant-supported dentures and dental bridges. Our dentist will help you select the restoration that best fits your dental needs and preferences.

Options for Replacing Missing Teeth

If you are missing one or more teeth, we encourage you to visit Nova Dental Care of Chantilly for a dental implant or dental bridge. If you are missing most or all of your teeth, dentures may be the best choice. Our team will help you decide based on your needs, preferences and lifestyle to ensure your new smile is functional, durable and to your liking.

Oral Cancer Screening

Dr. Neal Emad recommends routine oral cancer screenings to detect any signs of cancer in its earliest stage. Symptoms of oral cancer can often only be detected by a dental professional, and they often reach an advanced stage before a patient realizes treatment is needed. At Nova Dental Care of Chantilly, we offer biannual oral cancer screenings and encourage you to visit our office routinely. If needed, we will direct you to an oncologist to discuss your treatment options.

Oral Hygiene Basics

Many patients visit Nova Dental Care of Chantilly with questions about caring for their smiles:

  • Brushing: Use a soft toothbrush to avoid eroding enamel or irritating your gums. Brush in a circular pattern from the gumline to the center of the mouth, focusing on each area of your smile for at least 30 seconds and applying even pressure. Replace your toothbrush every three months or sooner if the bristles become frayed or the toothbrush has an odor.
  • Flossing:You should floss daily to remove plaque and bacteria. If you struggle with dental floss, we recommend floss sticks to ease the process.
  • Mouthwash:Choose a mouthwash that is sugar free and contains fluoride. Rinse your mouth after meals or after drinking harmful beverages such as coffee and soda.
  • Diet:A tooth-friendly diet is high in leafy greens, lean protein, nuts and dairy. We discourage too much soda, coffee, juice, acidic fruit, starch or sugar.

Please feel free to contact our office for more information about oral hygiene.

Post-Op Care for Dental Implants

Your dental implant surgery should be fairly comfortable; however, your mouth will require sufficient recovery time and will need to adjust to the new implant. We encourage you to place soft ice packs in the freezer and have ibuprofen on hand prior to your appointment. After the surgery, you should eat only soft foods, such as yogurt, soft cheese, soup, ice cream and fruit smoothies, for several days until your teeth and jaws are ready to chew again. Make sure what you eat is not too cold or too hot for your sensitive mouth.

Following surgery, we suggest that you take a few days off from work, request a lighter load or work from home until you feel normal again. You may experience swelling and soreness around the gums and cheeks, but you should be feeling better within the week.

After the bone and titanium implant have fused together, the crown will be attached to complete your new tooth. You may experience mild sensitivity, but no recovery process is required.

Preventive Dental Care

Preventive dental care is an important part of protecting your smile from tooth decay and oral disease. We encourage you to take an hour off work or school twice a year to visit the dentist and have your teeth cleaned and examined for any signs of a health problem. Professional cleanings and exams ensure that any plaque or bacteria that was missed during your at-home care will be removed and your smile will be polished.

What Can I Do to Improve My Smile?

If your smile is not to your liking, come visit Nova Dental Care of Chantilly for smile-enhancing services such as:

  • Teeth cleaningto remove plaque and bacteria
  • Teeth whiteningto remove yellowing and stains
  • At-home facial exercisesto strengthen your smile muscles and tighten the skin around your mouth

You can also make your smile and surrounding skin even more attractive by moisturizing daily and drinking more water.

What Do I Do If I Damage My Dentures?

Visit Nova Dental Care of Chantilly as soon as possible if your dentures have become damaged or no longer fit as well as they should. If pieces have broken off, gather them together to bring to our office. You can use dental wax to create a barrier between your smile and any loose areas of the denture that are rubbing on your gums. Remove your dentures and place them in a case or a glass of water to take to the dentist — do not continue to wear broken dentures. We offer emergency walk-ins for cases like yours.

What Do I Do If I Chip My Tooth?

Contact Nova Dental Care of Chantilly immediately if you have chipped or broken a tooth, especially if there is pain or bleeding involved. If you cannot come to us right away, take the following steps at home:

  • Rinse your mouth with warm salt water.
  • Apply light pressure to the damaged tooth with a piece of gauze or a cool cloth to reduce discomfort.
  • Purchase dental cement to cover the damaged tooth if you cannot get to the dental office that day.

Dr. Neal Emad will restore your tooth as soon as possible. We encourage you to call our office to schedule an appointment or receive further directions.

When Is a Tooth Extraction Necessary?

Dr. Neal Emad may need to extract a tooth that is damaged, decayed or overcrowded beyond repair. Intense discomfort is a sign that a tooth is severely injured. We recommend visiting our office at the first sign of a toothache to have the tooth treated before it reaches the point of extraction. Other reasons a tooth may need to be pulled are if the cost to repair the tooth is too great or a wisdom tooth is impacted. We offer sedation dentistry to ensure you are fully comfortable before we begin the extraction process.

Why Are My Gums Bleeding?

Gums bleed as a result of irritation caused by poor oral hygiene, plaque or tartar buildup below the gumline, smoking, diabetes, pregnancy, and certain medications. We encourage you to regularly brush and floss your teeth, especially around the gumline, and visit our office if you notice a change in your gum health.

Which Is Better — Invisalign® Aligners or Braces?

The best choice for orthodontic treatment depends on your personal smile needs and preferences. Both Invisalign aligners and braces are excellent choices for shifting overcrowded and misaligned teeth. However, if you have jaw problems that affect your smile, you may need to combine jaw surgery with your clear aligners or choose traditional braces. During your orthodontic consultation, Dr. Neal Emad will provide all of your options and help you select the best choice for your smile.

Will I Need a Bone Graft for Dental Implants?

Bone grafts are often performed on patients who do not have sufficient bone thickness to support a dental implant. This is often the case when prolonged tooth loss has caused the bone to reabsorb. Without the tooth root present to tell the body that the jawbone is being used, the body will begin to leech calcium from that area to use elsewhere, causing the bone to deteriorate. Our dentist will perform a thorough oral examination prior to placing your implants to determine if your jawbone is healthy and dense enough for the implants or if it requires a graft first.